21 September 2010

repetition.

Here's something interesting. yet again, a message about the value of educating women-- an essential element of development for any nation. (here and here are links to what I've blogged on this issue in the past)

a few facts (i know i may be repeating myself.. but that's okay.):

educated women generally make better use of health services and have a better understanding of hygiene, nutrition and parenting.

educated women as mothers help reduce infant mortality in children under 5 (by 10% for every additional year of schooling).

educated women reduce the fertility rate by making informed decisions and using reliable practices in family planning.

educated women are less likely to contract HIV/AIDSand thus less likely to pass the disease to children

educated women promote higher levels of education for their children. . . and their children's children and so on and so forth....

the benefits just keep on coming.

however...

I think Philip Stevens, a senior fellow at International Policy Network, makes an important point when he says, "Education is not much good if the health facilities and infrastructure don’t exist. If a country is massively misgoverned, like Sierra Leone, no amount of education is going to put bread on the table for children.”

Education is essential.Education for women is imperative.But international development and poverty reduction require systematic change in every aspect of policy, infrastructure, governance, etc.

Yet, there is hope. and for every girl who is educated, we get a little closer to the kind of world that I want to live in!